Uniquely Californian

HANDCRAFTED, SMALL-BATCH ALES AND LAGERS SINCE 2006

Embracing Tradition with local flavor

Early American brewers adapted traditional European brewing techniques to the unique ingredients, climates, and tastes of the New World. At Telegraph Brewing Co., our beers are handcrafted in that same manner at our brewery in Santa Barbara, California. Making use of as many locally grown ingredients as we can, Telegraph's ales embody our philosophy that a local brewery should reflect the traditions of its region. Our goal is to produce uniquely American beer styles that are imbued with a spirit of invention and creativity, but always with a nod toward history.

Each of Telegraph's brews is carefully crafted in small batches in our downtown Santa Barbara brewery. We respectfully employ brewing techniques proven over the centuries while eschewing modern shortcuts that might make our lives easier but inevitably lead to less distinctive beers. However, just like you, Telegraph Brewing Co. isn't afraid of trying something new. That's something you'll discover on taking your first sip of our beer. We are proud to be a small part of California's rich brewing heritage and we hope that with each pint you can taste the perfect blend of the past and the future.

Our Beers

Local, Traditional, Hand-made

Year-round

Seasonal

Obscura

These are the beers that define who we are and what we’re all about. Balanced. Complex and nuanced. Food-friendly. Unique. Explore our year-round line up of go-to beers and find your flavor.

Belgian-Style Pale Ale

Alcohol by volume: 6.2%; O.G.: 15° P / 1.059

Brewer's Notes

Telegraph California Ale is our flagship beer and is our interpretation of the unique ales that were commonly brewed up and down the West Coast in the 19th century. It is an unfiltered medium-bodied beer, with a rich amber color and a rocky, white head. The beer is crafted using domestic American ingredients and fermented with a unique yeast strain that accentuates the hoppy spiciness, while also imparting fruity and subtly tart flavors. The aromas are spicy and earthy, reminiscent of the rich agricultural valleys surrounding Santa Barbara.

Porter

Alcohol by volume: 5.7%; O.G.: 14° P / 1.056

Brewer's Notes

Staying true to original porter brewing techniques, Telegraph Stock Porter is dark and complex, yet eminently drinkable, revealing a tantalizing combination of coffee, vanilla, and chocolate aromas married to a fruity, refreshing acidity. The name "Stock Porter" was the moniker 19th century pub keepers gave to the more expensive Porter that had been aged in their beer cellars, as opposed to "Mild Porter", which was a less complex, less expensive, and less characterful brew.

Awards & Accolades

Rated "A-", Beer Advocate Magazine, Issue #30

Silver Medal Winner, 2008 Los Angeles International Beer Competition

Bronze Medal Winner , 2007 Los Angeles International Beer Competition

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White Ale

Alcohol by volume: 4.5%; O.G.: 11° P / 1.044

Brewer's Notes

A classic, brewed with coriander, orange peel, and locally grown chamomile flowers. It is called "white ale" because of the pale, cloudy color. A light aroma of orange and a zesty mouthfeel ensure that Telegraph White Ale is the perfect accompaniment to long summer days and fresh, flavorful farmer's market cuisine.

Awards & Accolades

Named one of the "Top 25 Beers of 2010", Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Dec. 2010

Dry-hopped Saison

Alcohol by volume: 7.0%; O.G.: 15.4° P / 1.062

Brewer's Notes

An unfiltered, dry-hopped Belgian saison, our Los Padres Saison is a beer we're sure our fathers would be proud of. Redolent with grassy and fresh-grapefruit hop aromas, a pilsner malt bill balances the beer perfectly. A hint of clove and a peppery, spicy, dry finish make this a very satisfying confluence of old and new world flavors.

Extra Pale Ale with Orange

Alcohol by volume: 4.5%; O.G.: 11° P / 1.044

Brewer's Notes

Goodland Orange is bright, crisp, and refreshing. Fermented with whole pureed oranges from the fertile orchards in Goleta, CA, just up the coast from our brewery. Telegraph Goodland Orange Pale Ale exhibits a distinct citrus aroma, a light body, and a bright Cascade hop finish. This is the essence of California in a glass.

Brewers know what season it is by looking what beers are in the tanks. Crisp pilsner? Must be summer. Rich, dark spiced ale? Definitely winter. Forget looking at the calendar, let your taste buds tell you what month it is.

Czech-Style Pilsner

Alcohol by volume: 5%; O.G.: 12.6° P / 1.050

Brewer's Notes

Our classic, crisp pilsner is brewed every summer for Santa Barbara's Fiesta celebration. Telegraph is proud to brew our Cerveza de Fiesta right here in downtown Santa Barbara, for locals and visitors alike. This classic Czech Pilsner-style lager is crisp, satisfying, and refreshing. Noble hop aroma and a biscuit malt body have this beer finishing clean and dry. It is just the beer to pair with great food, old and new friends, and good times. Viva la Fiesta!

Awards & Accolades

Dry-hopped Amber Lager

Alcohol by volume: 6%; O.G.: ?° P / ?

Brewer's Notes

Flotsam is a medium-bodied lager that pours a light amber color and displays a tight head. Dry-hopping with Meridian hops gives Flotsam a fresh aroma of lemon, dried apricot, and tropical fruit. The result is bright, flavorful, and refreshing.

Belgian-Style Strong Ale

Alcohol by volume: 10.0%; O.G.: 23° P / 1.092

Brewer's Notes

The rhinoceros may not be the king of the jungle, but he commands respect nonetheless. Powerful and distinctive, Telegraph Rhinoceros pays homage to one of the world's most majestic and endangered creatures. Brewed with a hefty dose of rye malt and balanced by a ridiculous amount of hops, our "rye wine" is truly a unique beast. Be careful... this rhino may seem mellow at first, but is known to charge unexpectedly!

Spiced Dark Ale

Alcohol by volume: 7.7%; O.G.: 17.2° P / 1.069

Brewer's Notes

Inspired by Mexican hot chocolate, Telegraph Winter Ale warms even the coldest of nights with its hints of cinnamon, allspice, vanilla, and sweet Ancho chilies. Using generous amounts of chocolate and caramel malts, we brew this beer in limited quantities as a special treat for our friends and families and to celebrate the holidays. Be sure to enjoy it cool, rather than cold, to fully appreciate its complexity.

The Obscura Series is our line of unique, limited-availability beers that represent the nexus of traditional and experimental brewing styles. Often using wild yeast strains, our progressive Obscura beers challenge the notions drinkers have about what beer really is. With complex, tart, earthy, funky aromas and flavors, these are beers brewed for connoisseurs of the different.

German-Style Sour Ale

Alcohol by volume: 5.0%; O.G.: 12° P / 1.048

Brewer's Notes

This sour "wild ale" recalls the earliest rustic beers crafted centuries ago before brewers had an understanding of controlled fermentation. Brewed with the addition of locally grown lemon verbena herb, as well as lactobacillus and wild brettanomyces yeast, Telegraph Reserve Wheat is an all-together different beast from modern beer. Light, tart and extremely refreshing, this special brew is available in extremely limited quantities.

Awards & Accolades

Ale

Alcohol by volume: 8.0%; O.G.: 17° P / 1.067

Brewer's Notes

Inspired by the exuberance of the Romani Gypsy culture, Telegraph Gypsy Ale celebrates the restless and adventurous spirit in all of us. We brew it with rye, unmalted wheat, and locally grown plums. Then we ferment it with Brettanomyces while listening to traditional Gypsy tunes. It's wild, it's unique, it's delicious. So go ahead, stray from that well-trodden ground you are following, grab a bottle, and dance along a crooked path. Opa!

Awards & Accolades

Rated “Outstanding,” Alström Bros, BeerAdvocate.com

Rated "A-" , Beer Advocate Magazine, Issue #48

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Experimental Beer

Alcohol by volume: 3.7%; O.G.: 9° P / 1.035

Brewer's Notes

Telegraph Petit Obscura is a small beer brewed from the sour-mash second runnings of a batch of our Rhinoceros Rye Wine. Historically, a small beer was brewed as a way of utilizing the remaining sugars that are otherwise lost when making a big, high-gravity beer. With a crisp, fruity, white-wine-like character, our little obscure one is a light-bodied wild ale with a subtle complexity that transcends its humble origins.

Sour red ale, aged in Syrah and Pinot Noir barrels

Alcohol by volume: 5.9%; O.G.: 14° P / 1.055

Brewer's Notes

The word vulpine means "like a fox." Here, we’re referring to the deep, reddish hues of Obscura Vulpine, a beer brewed especially for barrel aging. What goes into the wood as rich, malty, and ruby-colored, comes out a complex, sour, garnet ale. With notes of dried tart cherries, red currants, and oak, this is a beer as artful as our favorite forest canine.

press & accolades

Telegraph White Ale named one of the “Top 25 Beers of 2010” by Wine Enthusiast
magazine

Telegraph Stock Porter included as one of “Today’s Finest Porters” in the article
“Porters Get Fresh” Wall Street Journal, April 26, 2013

Telegraph Reserve Wheat Ale named one of “The 25 beers you need to try before
you die” in USA Today (April 7, 2015), calling it “the best wheat beer you’ll ever
drink”

Great American Beer Fest 2014
Gold Medal
Reserve Wheat Ale

Great American Beer Fest 2011
Gold Medal
California Ale

World Beer Cup 2012
Gold Medal
Petit Obscura Ale

Great American Beer Fest 2012
Silver Medal
Petit Obscura Ale

Great American Beer Fest 2012
Silver Medal
Rhinoceros Ale

Great American Beer Fest 2011
Silver Medal
Petit Obscura Ale

Great American Beer Fest 2013
Bronze Medal
California Ale

World Beer Cup 2012
Bronze Award
Rhinoceros Ale

Our Team

We make the magic happen

Brian Thompson

President

Brian Thompson

Ever since brewing his first batch of homebrew in a college apartment near Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, Brian wanted to be in the beer business. And he didn’t let a stint as a magazine editor or several years as a financial analyst get in the way of that dream. Brian founded Telegraph in 2006 using those homebrew recipes as the foundation for what became California Ale, Golden Wheat Ale, and Stock Porter, our three original beers.

Peter Baer

Head Brewer

Peter Baer

Since joining Telegraph in 2010, Peter has worked his way up the ladder at Telegraph from keg cleaner to Head Brewer. His background as an athlete in high school and college is manifested now in his competitive spirit and his desire to constantly improve Telegraph’s brewing operations. Peter’s unwavering attention to sanitation nearly single-handedly keeps isopropyl alcohol manufacturers in business.

Patrick Ceriale

Brewer

Patrick Ceriale

Patrick grew up in Santa Barbara, but was living in San Diego brewing enormous batches of IPA when the call came that it was time to move home. Bringing his love of hops with the unique twist on California beers for which Telegraph is known means Patrick has an opportunity to create interesting new experimental brews. In addition to his regular brewing duties, Patrick leads the collaboration on our barrel program and Obscura series beers.

Chris Thompson

Assistant Brewer

Chris Thompson

Chris joined Telegraph after moving back to California from Eastern Europe where he witnessed an American-style beer invasion, with locally brewed West Coast-style IPAs pushing into the uncharted territory beyond Euro lagers and Baltic porters. Chris is the brewery’s unofficial artist-in-residence and crafts intricate ceramic sculpture when he isn’t crafting beer.

Trevor Scoggins

Sales Manager

Trevor Scoggins

Trevor is a Central Coast native, passionate about the people and small businesses that give Santa Barbara County its character. He compliments his sales experience with a thorough craft beer education he received from purchasing and managing a high-end specialty foods retailer before joining Telegraph. When he’s not sharing the Telegraph story, Trevor can be found splashing around in the ocean.

Joshua Shervinski, PE

Tasting Room Manager

Joshua Shervinski, PE

Born and raised in the northeast, Joshua spent his time pursuing his education in engineering, but after several years in the industry, he realized his true passion was beer. He now works as our Tasting Room Manager, as well as an assistant brewer throughout the week. When he's not endlessly talking about different styles of beer, he's most likely enjoying the plentiful hiking around Santa Barbara or paddling around in his kayak.

Address

Visit us at our tasting room and enjoy tasting flights, goblets, and pints of ten brewery-fresh beers. Hang out and play darts, old-school video games, and Tiki Toss. We have growlers, bottles, and kegs to go. Follow us on social media for updates on beer releases, food trucks, and events. Cheers!

Extra Pale Ale with Fruit

Alcohol by volume: 4.5%; O.G.: 11° P / 1.044

Brewer's Notes

Goodland Orange is bright, crisp, and refreshing. Fermented with whole pureed oranges from the fertile orchards in Goleta, CA, just up the coast from our brewery. Telegraph Goodland Orange Pale Ale exhibits a distinct citrus aroma, a light body, and a bright Cascade hop finish. This is the essence of California in a glass.